5050 Skate Park Staten Island is the only indoor skate park in NYC, family owned and operated, and much more than just a skatepark. Interview and photos of owner/founder/builder Ed 5050, by Aaron Nardi.

Aaron: What’s going on with Staten Island lately? It’s coming up like a new WBBK?
Ed 5050: Staten Island, aka Shaolin is in a mini boom, especially on the North Shore Area – St George, Tompkinsville, and my neighborhood of Stapleton. Small brands like 5050 Skate park, Cobra Sun Studio, Richmond Hood, Flagship Brewery, Techbox, Makerspace and restaurants like Beso, 120 Bay Cafe(AKA Cargo), Craft House and Pier 76 are just some of the new hip businesses that are drawing some serious crowds. Investment companies are noticing the change people have been waiting for is finally happening. Our businesses bring people from all over NYC to the North Shore of Staten Island. For example, 5050 Skate park has over 4,000 registered attendees from 14 counties and 32 States.

We Staten Islander’s hate being compared to Brooklyn. We don’t want our island to be like Brooklyn, and if we did we would move there. Most Staten Islander’s left Brooklyn because they couldn’t find parking.